Our Setting
"A Home from Home"
We are fortunate enough to live in a beautiful 17th Century old farm house which not only has plenty of character and space to accommodate a small childcare setting such as ours, but this house, I feel, really was meant to be filled with the pitter patter of tiny feet and the big loud voices, giggles, laughter and the general hustle bustle of life with lots of babies and young children and anything less just feels a waste of such a gorgeous space. We are also very lucky to have a private and enclosed large garden which backs onto fields and a beautiful view in a rural village location, making for an idyllic place for children to grow, play, learn and explore.
What does a typical day at Aunty Helen’s look like?
We are a small 'home from home’ setting where all children can grow, explore and learn at their own pace in a safe, nurturing and loving environment. Being here for children is very much like staying with ‘Aunty’ in a family environment where the care is tailored to fit around each individual child’s needs, with the aim to ensure they develop well into secure happy and confident children ready to take their next steps onto pre school or school. We are fairly free flow and child lead here where teaching and learning through various play and activities are adapted to the children’s interest and attention span. Although some activities may be adult led and pre planned, (especially if we have arranged to go out), but most of the time, however our activities at the setting are planned in the moment making and following the interest of each child. We have routines and structures but are also fairly relaxed and I can recognise if a child is needing down time as much as play and learning, whatever we do though, we have fun!
Out and About in the Community…
Some days we may go ‘out and about’ where I take children to various places such as children’s play parks, soft play or role play centres, toddler / baby playgroups, baby music classes, shops, supermarket, on countryside and river walks, to visit the town etc. We may also have planned days out such as to the beach, animal parks, farms, zoo, sea life, forest schools or national trust properties provided we have parental consent of course. Any outings will be risk assessed and our first aid kit and 'in case of emergency' ID cards for myself and all attending children will be taken with us everywhere we go following correct procedures and policies that are in place to safeguard all children.
Our Regular Routine
0800 - 0900
0930 - 1000
1000 - 1200
1200 - 1300
1300 - 1500
1500 - 1530
1600 - 1630
1630 - 1730
1730
Children are welcomed to the setting, signed in and hang up bags and coats
​Snack Time in the kitchen (provided by parent)
If we are staying home then we will have some free play in our dedicated playroom, dining room
(if taking part in arts and crafts) and or the garden depending on the weather. Any younger children
that still need a morning nap have the opportunity to sleep in a separate quiet sleep zone.
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​If we are going 'out and about' then we will engage in an activity such as playgroup or other groups
classes, soft play or role play centres to fill our morning of fun, learning and socialising in the community and maybe meeting up with other local childminders / nannies too sometimes.
Children who need to sleep tend to fall asleep in the car or buggy, when we go out.
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Home for our Lunch (provided by parent) If we are on an all day outing then we take our
packed lunches with us so we don't have to rush home.
Nap Time in our dedicated ‘Sleep Zone’ all children encouraged to nap / rest.
If younger children have already had a morning nap and do not need a nap during this time
then quiet play and one to one engagement is offered so not to disturb sleeping children.
School Run, we walk across the road to the local primary school to pick up our
after school children and return home for further activities play and learning opportunities.
Snack Time in the kitchen or dining room (provided by parent)
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Wind down and getting ready for Home Time
(children will start to get collected anytime after 3.30pm depending on their contracts).
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Children waved goodbye at the door and brief handover offered to parent - signed out -
Doors Closed.
Meet the Pets
We are a family of pet lovers and as such a pet friendly setting and while I believe that children can very much benefit from being around animals, learning to take care of and be responsible for pets and potentially forming wonderful healthy bonds with them, I also understand the importance of keeping everyone safe, the children, the animals and our home, therefore it is crucial that risk assessments are carried out and that we follow procedures and policies in successfully managing them together. I also realise that there are going to be some families and children that may have allergies and or anxieties around animals so this may be a deciding factor into which childcare setting you choose.
